Off to Europe - the Netherlands, and Portugal via Spain.
Back mid-March. Set for lots of adventures, and lots of hard work.
If I get a NL phone sim, I'll try to list it here.
Don't leave messages on my Aussie mobile number - I will not be able to access them.
Instead: Email me -cazzbo (r)at(tatat-tat)hotmail.com.
But don't expect me to be a slave to the inty-net (I'm not). I only have a dumb phone, and will be simply scrounging net access where I can find it, in theatre foyers, etc. Not taking my laptop. Have no iThings whatsoever. There you have it!
Meanwhile I am going to miss trying to turn my garden into... well, a GARDEN.
What's been happening?
Well, I'm glad I posed the question.
New Year's Eve saw Mic Conway's National Junk Band entertain the gathering Parramatta river-side crowd. Then some of us dashed off, re-formed (but not reformed) and played/sang in 2012 as the Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band, in Glebe at the Cafe Church.
Captain Matchbox then journeyed south to Tathra near Bega, for the Tathra Summer Music Festival. I'm glad my car made it, and back, it is not used to such epic drives.
Sculpture By The Sea 2011
Wonderful. A moment of reflection when the brollies weren't being turned inside-out.
Wind-swept bloom.
"Domestic Bliss" moggy detail.
Migration of polyps.
Bloody nailed it!
Conductors should retire by the time they reach this stage.
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One of the most popular exhibits, this awesome retro vanity rig makes the perfect statement about the environment and the weather!
The bunker below.
The taps won the Sydney Water Environmental Sculpture Prize - seems reasonable.
Blustery brolly weather.
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Another popular photo opportunity. This gilded frame, made entirely from found objects, reminds all of the beauty that surrounds us.
The Meeting.
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City snaps
My morning: City errands + bicycle = winning combination.
I happened to have my camera handy this morning. What an old-fashioned thing to have to say, eh? Quaintly, all my phone is capable of is phone calls (and text messages!).
I happened to have my camera handy this morning. What an old-fashioned thing to have to say, eh? Quaintly, all my phone is capable of is phone calls (and text messages!).
I sneaked a snappy of this dapper chappy purposefully hack-sawing through a bike lock cable. One can only conclude that it was his bike and he had lost his keys. His walrus-mustachioed and eyebrow-ioed sense of gentlemanly tweed-ride style did not seem commensurate with anyone who would need to resort to bicycle theft!
Meanwhile, if having a city-sit-sit while fingering your iThing makes you feel that you are under-achieving, why not monetize this pastime within the portable signage industry? Opportunities await! -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
But why steady your gold sign by holding it or wedging it between the slats of a park bench? That's for mugs. Let's take it to the lext level - hands-free.
Clearly the sign scene has more tricks up its sleeve than I realized. The next day, passing throught the city, I spy this lass with a back-pack-style sign. She was white-earbudded up and thumbing her iPod, idly strolling away from my hasty shot. I know not of these everyday city things and people, not being any sort of worker! And who is buying all this gold from all these gold outlets?
Yup!
As usual, life's filled with a-little-bit-of-this-a-little-bit-of-that... enough to keep me out of trouble. How can we be in November already? Step on the brakes, someone!
A very recent highlight for me has been launching Christa Hughes' latest album SHONKY (Christa Hughes and The Honky Tonk Shonks). Due to (someone else's) injury, I got the emergency call. Not being in the band, nor on the album, I had had to aurally learn and absorb its entirety in a very short space of time. It was a great gig and I had fun!
As might be expected (or not!) much of my recent sporadic activity has been undertaken while wearing lederhosen and drinking weissbier. (But I don't wear lederhosen nor drink weissbier while tuning pianos!)
Here's somewhat of an example... a snippet on YouTube of the recent Central Coast Octoberfest (no, I didn't know there was such an event, either!) I tell you what, it was quite unusual to be dressed the way we were, Bayerische-mod-ooh-baby, and not stand out from the crowd! The Polka Kings. (The sound is kind of OK if you wear headphones.)
Jack Daniel's Silver Cornet Band had its last hurrah, at the Rocklily Bar, The Star (Sydney Casino) 6pm Monday 7th November.
A very recent highlight for me has been launching Christa Hughes' latest album SHONKY (Christa Hughes and The Honky Tonk Shonks). Due to (someone else's) injury, I got the emergency call. Not being in the band, nor on the album, I had had to aurally learn and absorb its entirety in a very short space of time. It was a great gig and I had fun!
As might be expected (or not!) much of my recent sporadic activity has been undertaken while wearing lederhosen and drinking weissbier. (But I don't wear lederhosen nor drink weissbier while tuning pianos!)
Here's somewhat of an example... a snippet on YouTube of the recent Central Coast Octoberfest (no, I didn't know there was such an event, either!) I tell you what, it was quite unusual to be dressed the way we were, Bayerische-mod-ooh-baby, and not stand out from the crowd! The Polka Kings. (The sound is kind of OK if you wear headphones.)
Jack Daniel's Silver Cornet Band had its last hurrah, at the Rocklily Bar, The Star (Sydney Casino) 6pm Monday 7th November.
Jack Daniel's Silver Cornet Band
Just concluded: a surreal intense flurry of gigs for the purpose-formed Jack Daniel's Silver Cornet Band. The band (brass/sax/percussion) stealthily hit various locations in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, skilfully interpreting the music of AC/DC, Midnight Oil, Queen, Kings of Leon, Muse, The Killers, Radiohead, Franz Ferdinand and more...
Impressive (to me!) was the commissioning of this logo on a kick-drum head for the series of gigs - there's real money in the rock world and the advertising world!
Jack Daniel's Silver Cornet Band uniform logo detail.
A couple of promo pics from the JD Facebook page.
Impressive (to me!) was the commissioning of this logo on a kick-drum head for the series of gigs - there's real money in the rock world and the advertising world!Jack Daniel's Silver Cornet Band uniform logo detail.A couple of promo pics from the JD Facebook page.
I went all-out with some bell-branding for our last hurrah...
And finally: The JD Engine Room! WOO!
The Piano Lowdown
One of this week's pianos... a fabulous Bösendorfer at Knox Grammar School. This one goes down to F (below the usual low A). The black keytops are a reference point for the pianist's peripheral vision when playing something outrageously fancy that covers the 'usual' gamut. Reminiscent of the infamous black pudding in Ripping Yarns - where "Even the white bits are black". They sound pretty wanky-amazing, these additional four notes.
City To Surf 2011
The City To Surf Band, dodging dodgy weather to lift the spirits of the record number of fun-runners. Meanwhile, nearby like-minded jovial supporters lifted our spirits with champagne in plastic cups! Salut!
Indulging in what our fearless bandleader called 'Cazzbo's crowd-surfing'. After the gig I returned to my car to find I had a parking ticket, so I only just stayed solvent, deducting that from my gig fee. D'oh!
Matchbox On Ice
Winter wonderland comes to Parramatta! Spectacular ice dancing with live music on a open-air rink.
Parramatta Town Hall - 'Winter Nights'. A 'special' shot from Phil's iPhone... magical!
The veranda was our 'stage', affording the best view of the rink action.
But first, preparation of the surface - scrape, scrape!
A black tie event sees the band sprucing up, down and sideways...
Fit to be tied.
Mic and Clare puttin' on the ritz...
The curious case of men and their buttons!
Don a-donning!
Marvellous Magritte people, off to work...
...and their assorted accoutrement.
Mic and a passing Magritte.
Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band at Ormond Hall
Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band has re-ignited in Melbourne - to honour the halcyon days, Mic and Jim Conway, and for fans young and old.
Firstly, two riotous nights headlining at the iconic Ormond Hall in Melbourne, the site of many a memorable night 'back in the day...', with the legendary Elliot Goblet and Adelaide band The Beards admirably supporting. Then a third night as part of Jack Levi's famous Crimson Goat Club, adding a healthy dose of music, satire and magic to the night's entertainment.
'Microphone' Mic Conway adds his finishing touches. Notice fellow performers the Nelson Twins and 'Gulia Jillard' in the background.
Photographing the gorgeous bogan twins preparing... just couldn't stop looking at them... compelling!
After the gig. Mic - seeing double!
Seeing double with blur... I'm super-appreciative of the kind soul using my camera, but it was patently evident at the time that pressing the shutter without moving the camera was proving to be impossible!
Not 'what gets your goat?', but rather, WHO gets your goat? The Crimson Goat has notched up another great night of variety.
That's it - the van is loaded!
Takin' it to The Beards - Bowlesy and Andrew!
The entrance to Ormond Hall - I should have attempted a daytime shot.Here's an article on the current Captain Matchbox journey, which was published in Inpress Magazine.
Here's a clip: My Canary Has Circles Under His Eyes (the view from the Royal Box).
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